SEVENTY years ago D-Day earned the nickname the Longest Day – but yesterday it got a new tag as French president Francois Hollande called it “24 hours that changed the world”.

The bravery of the D-Day heroes will today be remembered, 70 years on[AP/EPA]

What is likely to be the last mass gathering of veterans began in the first few seconds of June 6 at the spot where it all began – Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal.

It continued as veterans shrugged off the years to parade on Sword Beach before Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge.

A star-studded audience came to pay its respects to a cast of 3,000 veterans, including 650 from Britain, proudly wearing hard-won medals.

Royalty included the Queen and Prince Charles. There were the leaders of 18 nations, among them Prime Minister David Cameron, Presidents Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin and ­German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The ceremonies were accompanied by RAF flypasts that once again unleashed the roar of ­Spitfires, Hurricanes and a Lancaster over the beaches.

Huge numbers of military enthusiasts turned out in Second World War uniforms and lovingly restored trucks and jeeps. And there were flags everywhere from every nation that took part in the biggest amphibious invasion ever assembled.

National secretary of the Normandy Veterans Association, George Batts, has ­dedicated his life to organising pilgrimages to the landing sites for his comrades.

The Queen and Prince Charles at the British War cemetery in Bayeux today [REUTERS]

David and Samantha Cameron attended a ceremony at Bayeux Cathedral [PA]

People ask ‘Weren’t you afraid?’ What a stupid question! Of course we were. But it was a job and you just got on with it

Cyril Cook

With membership down to about 600 it is disbanding in November. Perhaps the most poignant event of all was their last ever parade on Gold Beach. Mr Cameron presented Mr Batts with an award for his voluntary work and honoured him by making him British veterans’ representative at the state lunch.

Then there was David ­Mylchreest, chosen to be Britain’s veteran in a line-up which, sheltered from the fierce sun by French soldiers holding black umbrellas, was presented to world leaders on Sword Beach.

There was Denys Hunter, from Romsey, Hants, back in Normandy for the first time.

He said: “It’s the last time I will ever get here. At 90 I’ve not got much chance to come again. I suppose I did leave it a bit late.”

And Cyril Cook, 91, a former lieutenant with the 12th Yorkshire Parachute Battalion, said: “People ask ‘Weren’t you afraid?’ What a stupid question! Of course we were. But it was a job and you just got on with it.”

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Prince Charles and Camilla in Bayeux today [GETTY]

Hundreds of veterans have travelled to France for the anniversary of the landings [PA]

In Caen President Hollande led a service for fallen civilians. He said: “This day, which began in chaos and fire, would end in blood and tears, tears and pain, tears and joy at the end of 24 hours that changed the world and ­forever marked Normandy.”

The shadow of another conflict, in Ukraine, hung over the ceremonies.

President Obama alluded to it when he described ­Normandy as “democracy’s bridgehead”. Mr Obama said: “People ­cannot live in freedom unless free people are prepared to die for it.”

The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended the Royal British Legion service of remembrance at Bayeux Cathedral.

Afterwards Mr Cameron told veterans of a sense of history and awe and for his generation humility because they had not had to put their lives on the line for freedom.

He said: “Above all it gives you a sense of extraordinary gratitude for what these amazingly brave people did.”

British troops pictured during the landings [GETTY]

Barack Obama and Francois Hollande at the Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach [AP]